Colorado Springs couple rolling out party bus for good times

Lacie Richardson and her fiance, Mike Preisler, are putting parties on the road with The Local Motive, a party bus.

The two found an old school bus, gutted the insides, painted outside and inside in bright festive colors, installed comfy seating and hooked up a sound system to launch the new business.

The couple are not new to dreaming up business concepts. Richardson created the highly successful Wild Woman Fish Co. and Preisler, along with Richardson, brought the community A Grazing Life a farm-to-table dinner and brunch series.

“The concept for The Local Motive is to feature everything local to the Springs,” Richardson said. “We love the Springs and want to show it off. Our goal is to explore and promote the local food and drink scene while building community through shared experiences.”

The bus can seat 30. For $25, passengers get a themed tour with stops at four to five food and drink establishments where they can purchase special-priced bites and sips. Some crawls allow bring-your-own-booze on the bus. For example, some brewery tour participants can bring a favorite local beer to add to a beer potluck.

“It’s a great way for everyone to try a different beer than you brought,” Richardson said.

To keep the price of the tours reasonable, Richardson and Preisler have several local sponsors including Mother Muff’s, Hatch Cover, Elevation Hydration, Absolute Vapor Source, Goat Patch Brewing, and Colorado Real Estate Group. Tickets are available at localmotiveevents.com. Breakfast beat

Eli Patterson, executive chef and general manager of Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern, 13021 Bass Pro Drive, has rolled out a new breakfast menu, served 8 to 11 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Prices are reasonable for large platers of morning favorites such as The Brothers Breakfast ($11) with three eggs, hash browns, bacon or sausage (go for the excellent sausage) and optional Eli’s homemade smoked pulled pork green chili. For sure, take the chili option. It’s a meal in itself, loaded with flavorful smoky pork and spicy chunks of roasted green chili. The eatery’s famous Sunday brunch remains as usual. Details: 219-1830, bourbonbrothers.com.

Road trip

When you find yourself in Denver hunkering for a bite to eat, drive to Cherry Creek to score a seat at Hedge Row American Bistro, 100 Steele St. It’s a new eatery by The Kitchen Restaurant Group, which includes, The Kitchen and Next Door. All the eateries have the mission to source food from American farmers, helping to stimulate the local farm economy. The management also keeps an eye out for talented chefs, such as Aaron Christensen, who cooks at Hedge Row’s grill and wood oven. He has mastered the charred broccolini ($8), which arrives at the table slightly scorched, singing with tangy carmelized lemon and spicy gochujang flavors. The Boulder natural half roasted chicken ($28) has a crispy skin over juicy, plump meat. A side of curried couscous with crunchy almonds and cooling sumac yogurt completes the generous meal. Christensen is the son of Tim and Brenda Christensen, owners of Fermentations, a local source for wine and beer making kits and equipment. Hedge Row hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. Details: 720-642-8292, hedgerowbistros.com.

Spicy life

Emillio Ortiz, mixologist wizard at 503 W. Open Kitchen and Craft Bar, was the Denver semifinal winner in the United States Bartenders’ Guild “Make it Exotico” Cocktail Competition on April 24 for his “The Spice of Life” cocktail. Ortiz heads to New Orleans to compete with six other finalists for the grand prize: an all-expense-paid trip to Exotico Tequila’s distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Drop by 503 W bar to admire his trophy and have a shot of Exotico. Details: 503 W. Colorado Ave,, 471-3370, 503w.co.

– The Taste of Tri-Lakes Cares at Flying Horse Ranch, 9663 E. Palmer Divide Ave., Larkspur, 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 9. Cost is $20 (children 11 and younger free) to enjoy good food with interactive games designed to highlight the various programs and services provided by Tri-Lakes Cares in northern El Paso County. Visit tinyurl.com/y9kjnlep.

– A Taste of Hope by Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains at Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Drive, 5 to 8 p.m. May 10. For $25 ($15 for children 3 to 13; under 2 free), enjoy local restaurants and breweries/wineries offering tastes and sips with all proceeds benefiting the programs and clients of the organization. Visit tinyurl.com/y9znylbg.